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Samsung's Ballie

1,2,3 … -- Waltzing with Ballie



1,2,3 …Waltzing with BallieHow did we ever live happily before the Samsung Co.'s invention of the "tennis ball butler," AKA "Ballie?" It's shown in great (?) detail in the official YouTube video.
Ballie does all the organizing in your high-rise and high-tech condo, from waking you up, following you around there, adjusting the temperature, turning on the TV to entertain your pooch (or, presumably, any felines as well), and even tells your "Roomba" autonomous robotic vacuum cleaner, when to start doing its day's work. Samsung's video, entitled "A waltz for Ballie. Here's how Ballie improves the quality of your 'me time' and takes care of your loved ones and your home" has been seen by more than one and one half million viewers and shows some of the actions mentioned above. In a companion video, the ball follows the actor who is slowly walking around the stage, carefully keeping a safe distance. 

Life (in the fast lane) is changing

As of this moment, life will never be the same again. Ballie will take care of that, for sure. 



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Just imagine, instead of going out to play with your dog in the park, you can do that now entirely by your lonely self, while your pooch can be watching a "dog (and pony?)" show on TV. What progress! Presumably, your pet will be equally pleased with getting a subscription to "Ballie's Adventures" at the next opportunity. I don't know what you may think of this marvel of modern technology, but a few (highly selected) comments may be giving you an idea of my own feeling:
  • There's absolutely no scenario where this survives my dog;
  • This is so awkward to watch;
  • Looks like a lemon;
  • I'm ready to play baseball now!!
Clearly, those aren't very enthusiastic comments and, in all honesty, there are many more comments to choose from, most of a negative and funny nature. Of course, the little ball needs a master/mistress that tells it when to wake them or when to turn on the TV, which channel, etc.  No doubt, everyone is inclined to become a specialist in programming the tennis ball for every day and desire. For the vast majority (myself included), if you happen to want to rise early or want to sleep in for change, it may be more complicated to change Ballie's setting than changing the alarm setting on grandma's alarm clock. The latter though is definitely less glamorous than waltzing with the ball. Actually, …

Waltzing

When it comes to Waltzing

When it comes to Waltzing, I also have my own ideas, decidedly different from Samsung's invention. I'm rather thinking of (presumably) one my former incarnations, as in the picture close by.   Of course, the Viennese Waltz became a favorite dance nearly 150 years ago – long before the Roomba vacuum came about and also before its name-sake "Rumba" dance became a hit in western societies, after WWII. In contrast to dancing the Waltz, dancing the Rumba requires you to be able to count to four, not just to three; clearly, a different level of challenge. Nevertheless, both the Waltz and the Rumba are still favorite dances among many (especially slightly aged) folks. And that's good!


Now, where does this leave Ballie and its friend Roomba?

I doubt that Ballie is up to dancing either the Waltz or the Rumba. The companion video, mentioned above, was awkward to watch indeed, as one commenter noted. And as to Roomba, some people may find it useful, others not so. In any event, if you want those gadgets to do anything at a time when you're not at home, it requires programming of each function, checking the execution, cleaning filters, etc., all of which takes time to learn and master. Quite possibly, it may save you time by doing the chore yourself rather than (re)-programming and (re)-checking the settings of those gadgets every time you change your preferences. However, if you rather prefer to go waltzing with Ballie in your one-room condo/flat instead of on the ballroom floor with a young lady, it's your choice!

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Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser -- Bio and Archives

Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser is author of CONVENIENT MYTHS, the green revolution – perceptions, politics, and facts Convenient Myths


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